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Yesterday MBC and Rock Mills Fellowship Baptist Churches held an annual pulpit swap. It was another great opportunity to strengthen bonds between these two area churches. This is the sermon I preached on the occasion.
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Hate what is evil, cling to what is good. (Romans 12:9b)
In a Casting Crowns song there is a line that has often stayed with me. It says, “Nobody knows what we're for, only what we're against.” In the song it is speaking into a spirit of Judgementalism that sadly pervades in some Christian quarters. But right judgement of evil is not wrong as our verse reminds us. We need to know what is right and wrong. However, we must do more than to point out the problem (i.e. telling someone they’re a sinner or that such and such is wrong), we must point them to the solution; provide the better alternative.· -We’re against sin; but FOR a Saviour from sin, Jesus Christ· -We’re against sexual immorality (lust, one night stands, common law living, pornography, homosexuality, etc); but we’re FOR God’s design in faithfulness, purity, marriage and family· -We’re against injustice; we’re FOR justice and mercy· -We’re against falsehoods; we’re FOR truth· -We’re against empty purposes and dreams; but we’re for hope· -And so on… May we not simply cling to what is good by hating evil, may we hate evil and so positively present goodness. May people not only know what we as Christians are against, but ultimately what we are for. Prayer: Heavenly Father, forgive me for only dwelling upon the negative, help me to live for you by positively portraying your good plans and purposes, calling people to repent of sin and turn to Jesus. In His name I pray. Amen. As a local pastor I have the priviledge of ministering to the residents of Grey Gables. Below are a series of I AM reflections I've been leading the residents through in Chapel based upon Jesus' 7 I AM statements in John: December- I am the door (Jn 10:7, 9) November- I am the light of the world (Jn 8:12) September- I am the bread of life (Jn 6:35)
Christians have always been a people devoted to the noble principles of God’s Word. As such they have been a principled people. Through their commitment to missions they’ve also tended to be a pragmatic people as well. So Christians have sought to balance two critical values: principles and pragmatism. Principled One does not have to search far to see this. Here are three examples:
Pragmatism At the same time, because Jesus has given us a mission, we’ve been a pragmatic people. Here are a couple of examples:
Enter 1 Peter 4:4: With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you. The New Testament era church did not engage in a host of activities, explicit or perceived, because it would compromise them on the subject of idolatry and holiness. Historian Nick Needham[1] said this of the early Church period: [1] Nick Needham, 2000 Years of Christ’s Power, vol. 1: The Age of the Early Church Fathers. (Scotland: Christian Focus, 2016), 81–2.   This is a helpful glimpse into early Christians, living in an ungodly age, who lived out 1 Peter 4:4. To not join in or even to not give the impression of joining in, is a vital value. Greater than missional pragmatism, but interesting still missional.
In contemporary post-Christian Canada there are many past practices, residue of cultural Christianity, that we’d do well to rethink (e.g. Halloween). Likewise, as the Church faces new realities there are areas we ought not to rush into for the sake of missional relevance until we’ve seriously thought them through. Of the latter attending a same-sex wedding is a prime example. The value to be missionally pragmatic would say to attend for the sake of loving them and building relationships. The value of principle demands no (you can read more here), for while there are many acceptable ways to minister to our homosexual friends and neighbours, to attend a wedding (which celebrates) is to take part in celebrating something which God calls evil. While we wouldn’t necessarily become unholy by attending, the act of condoning (even by perception) would go against the command in 1 Pet 4 “do not join them.” You see, sometimes to be principled, while not being pragmatic, does actually better serve the cause of the Gospel and our mission better. For when we are seen to be humbly different, even if they malign us, we will bear a greater witness that God will use more effectively for His glorious purposes: Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honourable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. (1 Pe 2:12). A recent sermon preached on the neglected theme of beauty in Scripture.
Our world is obsessed with itself (yet “God opposes the proud,” Ja 4:6). Think of how vain we can be when we shamelessly draw attention to ourselves[1]:
Think of how Jesus commanded his followers to pray in secret (Mt 6:5–6), fast without flaunting it (Mt 6:16–18), give in secret (Lk 21:1) and take the less prestigious seats at gatherings (Lk 14:10). Listen to how Jesus described vanity in His own words on the subject of giving to the needy and how seriously he condemns it (Mt 6:1–4): 6 “Beware of practising your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. There is no place for vanity amongst Christ’s followers. We do not make a spectacle of self but live to give all glory to Christ. Let us not live empty lives but full lives that centre upon Him. [1] It is not wrong to speak of oneself discretely, but what is our motive? That is always the most important question. We can appropriately share in natural conversation with others about our lives when we’re mutually interested in others and when what we share is in the pursuit of sharing wholesome truths (e.g. come see the birds at my feeder, I think you’ll really be interested vs. I’ve got a new feeder, come see how nice it is). Why do people pursue vanity? For some it is sheer pride, the desire to be God. For others it comes for competition's sake. Still others do it to meet some unmet need in their life (relational affirmation). On the latter, they ought to find affirmation through knowing the love of Christ through faith in Him, which of course is what all three ultimately need.
this is impossible; such practices are deeply rooted in Eastern religions. Such a lie is simply meant to ensnare the unsuspecting in an ultimately unhelpful and spiritually harmful exercise.
How did Western culture move from the Lord’s Prayer to Eastern Meditation? Two basic things: a) as many Christian churches became nominal and prayer became lifeless people sought for an alternative to meet a most basic human need, and b) during the 60s, and through the influence of groups such as the Beatles, the West was introduced to Eastern Transcendentalism, or the practice of meditation.[1] This fit very well with the reactive Hippy years. Now meditation is now wrong, it just depends on how we define it. Eastern meditation involves “emptying” whereas Christian meditation involves “filling.” Both are aiming at peace but only one can achieve true and lasting peace. Christian filling produces a peace that comes from getting right with God through belief in the Gospel, a peace that comes from asking God to fill you with more of His Spirit, a peace that comes from seeking forgiveness, knowing Him, and bringing your deepest longings and needs before Him, a peace that comes from worshipping Him in thanksgiving. Christian meditation is the exact opposite of Eastern meditation. Likewise, when Scripture speaks of meditation, we think or ponder upon God’s character as revealed in His word; we meditate upon Scripture, its meaning and application (Josh 1:8). In Lk 11 Jesus told the story of a person who had a demon cast from them, yet the troubling sequel of how, “finding the house swept and put in order,” that demon went and found seven of its nastiest friends and returned! (Lk 11:24–26). I’ve often likened this story to the ejection of nominal Christian in Canada and its replacement with many false religions more dangerous than the falseness of nominal Christianity. More specifically, if we meditate and let our mind “float,” “drift” and be open and free, what spiritual force are we opening ourselves up to be filled by (other than the living God)! Rather than following the CAA article’s 5 steps, allow me to recommend 5 better and biblical steps:
[1] Nigel Scotland, The Baker Pocket Guide to New Religions. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2006), 193. It has been a rainy summer. Just this week our area has seen many storms roll through. As I pondered the weather a thought struck me. The great majority of our storms come from a westerly direction, which is our prevailing wind. To get a storm from any other direction is unusual. We’re always watching the clouds in the West. We plant hedges in this direction and build houses and projects with this in mind. The storms of this world come from the West.
Interestingly, however, Jesus will return from the East. Not least among Biblical references, this is what He said in Mt 24:27: For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.[1] As we are dealt the westerly storms of this world and our eyes and thoughts are often inclined in that direction, keep your eye on the East, hope in Christ. Set your focus not on the storms of this life but upon Jesus and His promised return. He is the bright morning star that sheds light into our darkness and He will come again like the blazing sun to take away the darkness of stormy sin forevermore. [1] Though this verse says Jesus return will be like lightening from the east, lightening is seen and covered a broad area (“as far as the west”). The emphasis is on the sudden and destructive and visible return of Christ than the direction. It remains a mystery how exactly Christ will return from the east and yet be visible everywhere. For blogs and Christian commentary on the last election read here.
“Many seek the face of a ruler but justice comes from the LORD.” (Prov 29:26) “We’re not in Kansas anymore,” are the famous words issued by Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. Looking at Canadian politics through the lens of Christ this couldn’t be more true. What is very evident is that no major party remotely represents a Christian worldview; in fact some are hostile to Christianity. So, how is the Christian to wisely exercise their civic duty, which is the means by which God appoints elected officials in His Providence? Here are some possibilities and we’ll end with some principals:
From our summer Five Minute Moment (5MM) People’s Choice, someone asked me afterwards about what the Bible says about Cremation. This is a great question and incidentally one of the most frequent questions I receive, especially from those with more life behind them than ahead of them.
Traditionally cremation was only an Eastern practice. It has become more common in formerly Western Christian lands in recent years, particularly in places such as Europe or North American cities which have less ground available for burials or where this ground is expensive. Even here there is a movement back against cremation to natural burials because of environmental concerns. The Bible doesn’t explicitly touch on the subject of cremation but it does provide a number of compelling principles that weightily inform a Christian perspective. From start to finish there is a story of burial and hope of a bodily resurrection in the Bible. As early as Gen 15:15 there is mention of burial, and though the practice was to be buried in a tomb (Gen 23:6), there is a sense in which a burial is a burial. It was the Egyptians and Babylonians who used coffins and embalming, in preparation for their future life. The greatest example of burial is of course the Lord Jesus, who was buried and on the third day rose (1 Cor 15:4). Because the Bible says Jesus will return from the east Christian graves traditionally always faced that direction, in anticipation. Likewise, a bodily resurrection is the hope of the believer. The wages of sin is death (Ro 3:23). Though we are spiritually ensured eternal life upon belief, the physical benefit awaits the Resurrection. The Old Testament foresaw the Resurrection in verses like Isa 26:19a and 53:11a. It became a key tenet of the Pharisees (Acts 24:21). In fulfilment of these foreshadowing’s, and Christ’s own Resurrection, is the promise that the believer will share in a resurrection like His (Ro 6:5). This is why Christians have always believed in the Resurrection of the dead and the life everlasting (Apostles Creed). The Bible values the entire person and so the entire person, including the body, is treated with respect both during life and after death (hence why we don’t desecrate graves). Not so in Eastern religions (from which we get cremation). Here the body is of little consequence in comparison to the soul. Eastern religions believe the body can impede the soul from moving on to its next journey. As such, the cremation and funeral is undertaken speedily in order to free the soul. The grand theme of the Bible is one of burial and resurrection. While there are no commands to “be buried” the weight of these principles and the living example of Scripture is why Christians traditionally have always buried their dead. In fact amongst the Eastern Orthodox (and Orthodox Jews) cremation is prohibited. Yet we know people can die terrible deaths, be eaten, incineration, exploded or suffer death at sea. Certainly the power of the Lord is able to resurrect their bodies, even from dust. He can do the same with cremated bodies. Still the imagery and care of the body is absent in cremation. I am not going to be cremated. I don’t believe it is prohibited in Scripture but I also don’t believe it is encouraged. Like the Lord Jesus and the saints before Him, it is my wish to follow his example and be buried. There my body will await His return. |
